For instance, the number of operational airports in the country have increased significantly from 50 in 2000 to 137 in 2019, with plans in place for an additional 100 airports by 2024.
However, even with several initiatives in place, we have still not tapped into the full potential of leisure tourism in the country. There are several unexplored and underdeveloped beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, heritage sites and hill stations in India which can be developed into established leisure destinations but are lagging as they still lack last-mile connectivity and good infrastructure facilities, including good quality hotels.
Hotels play a key role in creating successful leisure destinations
Hotel stay is an important aspect which can make or break the holiday experience for a tourist and good quality hotel supply can go a long way in making a tourist destination successful. A case in point is the Rajasthan tourism sector.
With its royal heritage, forts, havelis and deserts, the state of Rajasthan has successfully established itself as a popular leisure destination for both domestic and international tourists alike. Tourism contributes close to 20% to the state’s economy and is the third largest employment generator. The state has been successful in creating major tourism markets such as Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Pushkar along with minor markets such as Bikaner, Mount Abu etc. Several factors have helped in this achievement, chief among them is the availability of good quality branded hotels across the state. The state also boasts of several iconic hotels and resorts which not only induce demand for themselves but also help in creating a ‘brand’ for the destination itself.
In stark contrast is the picturesque Northeast India that has not been able to attract its fair share of tourists even though it has several unique experiences on offer. The government, on its part, has introduced many marketing campaigns and initiatives to promote tourism in the region, but it is still unexplored mainly due to lack of infrastructure and availability of quality branded tourist accommodation. Top international and domestic hotel chains have recently entered these markets, which is expected to transform the tourism sector in the region, helping develop it to its full potential.